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The West Indies Test team have turned to Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze to boost their batting in a two-Test series against India, as they seek to rebound from their embarrassing innings of 27 all out against Australia.
The “Maroon Men” lost all three tests against Australia between 3 June and 14 July in the Caribbean. The final result was especially traumatic, as they were scuttled out within 15 overs at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica.
Mitchell Starc took six wickets for nine runs.
Photo: AFP/ Getty Images.
Head coach Daren Sammy hopes Chanderpaul and Athanaze help address that frailty. The first test against India starts on 2 October at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
“The return of Tagenarine Chanderpaul is to help transform our fortunes at the top of the order given the recent struggles,” Sammy told CWI Media, “with Alick Athanaze being added for his strengths and qualities against spin bowling.
“Khary [Pierre] is included for the first time as our second spinner in what we expect to be helpful conditions.”
Pierre replaces spinner Gudakesh Motie, who is rested due to “the demands of the upcoming limited overs schedule”, which includes next February’s ICC T20 World Cup.
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868.)
Chanderpaul, 29, averages 32.94 from 19 Tests innings with a high score of 207 not out against Zimbabwe on 4 February 2023, which is his only century at this level. He also registered a half century against Australia.
The 26-year-old Athanaze, a middle-order batter, averages 25.08 from 25 innings with four half-centuries. His top score is 92 against South Africa on 7 August 2024.
Opener Mikyle Louis, who featured in the crushing loss to Australia, was omitted from the current squad.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) director of cricket Miles Bascombe credited the thinking behind the squad selection.
“Our approach to squad selection continues to be calculated and deliberate,” said Bascombe. “We consider the opposition, the playing conditions, and the skill sets required to be successful against specific opposition.
“The inclusion of players has therefore been guided not only by their recent performances, but also by identifying who within our pool is best suited to deliver positive results on these surfaces, against this quality of opposition.
“At the same time, we are conscious of building continuity and depth in our Test squad as we look to compete consistently throughout this World Test Championship cycle.”
Photo: Associated Press.
Sammy’s sole Test series as head coach so far saw his team white-washed by Australia with the second worst score in history.
However, he suggested the West Indies showed “what they are capable of” in that series.
“This will be our second series together as a Test team,” said Sammy, “but we have already shown what we are capable of as a unit once we are committed to our brand and plans of the team.
Photo: Cricket Australia.
“Playing in the subcontinent always presents a challenge and we have selected a team to be competitive in these conditions.”
Team: Roston Chase (captain), Jomel Warrican (vice-captain), Kevlon Anderson, Alick Athanaze, John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Anderson Phillip, Khary Pierre, and Jayden Seales.
Management unit: Daren Sammy (head coach), Floyd Reifer (assistant coach, batting), Ravi Rampaul (assistant coach, bowling), Rayon Griffith (assistant coach, fielding), Rawl Lewis (team manager), Neil Barry (physiotherapist), Ronald Rogers (strength and conditioning coach), Fitzbert Alleyne (massage therapist), Avenesh Seetaram (team analyst), and Jerome Foster (content and media officer).
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